HISD board approves budget for next academic year

The HISD board approved a new budget for the upcoming academic school year last night and it will cost taxpayers $1.62 billion.

Board trustees voted 6 to 3 to approve the 2013-2014 budget. It means some struggling schools will get $16 million for longer school days and tutoring for students. It also means a two-percent pay raise for all HISD employees.

Residents who live within the HISD will see a two-cent increase in their property taxes. The owner of a home with a market value of $209,249 will pay an additional $30.48 a year in property taxes. That is $2.54 a month.

The HISD board says the two-cent property tax is down from the six-cent property tax increase predicted earlier this year.

The budget also includes $14 million for schools to help students who did not pass the STAAR exams. The board will vote on a property tax to fund the budget in October.